She swooped toward Lix when he tapped his sword against the ground. “Pardon me, Madame.” He held up a bony finger as he spoke to Ethel. “Before we go, could you tell me if you have any spirits here.” Lix glanced at the ghosts hovering nearby. “Of the alcohol variety, I mean? Preferably a malt beverage.”
Ethel looked mad enough to spit nails. “Get out!”
“I’ll take a look for myself,” Lix said and sauntered straight through her. Ethel gawked after him. The rest of the ghosts drifted out of his way as he pushed open one of the metal swinging doors separating the diner from the kitchen and warehouse beyond.
“It’s time to go,” Kobal said.
The ghosts zipped faster and faster around the room until they became a circling, gray ball overhead. Their distress became nearly palpable on the air.
“Can’t be stuck. Don’twantto be seen anymore,” many of them lamented.
Erin, Vargas, and Hawk headed for the door. Corson rose from his seat as the light coming from the bulbs overhead intensified to the point I was certain they would burst. Caim and Raphael looked as pleased with the ghosts as the demons did. Daisy floated closer to me while Ethel continued to shout for us to get out. Kobal pressed his hand more firmly into my back and nudged me toward the door.
“Is it true, World Walker, is there nothing you can do for us?” Daisy whispered.
“Wait!” I breathed and dug in my heels to stop Kobal. “There may be something!”
Kobal tensed at my words and the others all froze. The lights flared brighter before dimming as the circle of ghosts eased. Some of them floated down around us again. They pressed so close that they cooled my skin, but nowhere near as badly as the wraiths did.
“What?” many of them asked at the same time.
Tipping my head back, I stared at the lights before focusing on the see-through crowd again.
“We could use help powering the lights at the wall.” Enough ghosts together could generate a fair amount of light. “It’s true that ghosts will never be able to hide from humans again, but we can work together to make it better forallof us!” I said.
“Please don’t say what I think you’re going to say,” Corson muttered.
“They can help us, and we can help them!” I insisted.
Pompadour gave me a suspicious look as he floated closer. “How?”
“You can light things up and we can use that ability to help keep the wall lit, if it’s still standing. The humans at the wall already know about the existence of demons and angels, so ghosts won’t be much of a stretch for them. You can come to the wall and help us.”
“Aw shit, River,” Corson griped, and he looked as if I’d just told him he had to kiss an angel.
Kobal didn’t argue my words, but the expression on his face mirrored Corson’s. No one else said a word.
Lix kicked open one of the swinging doors, breaking the silence. He strolled out with a crate in his hands. “Jackpot!” he announced before setting it on the counter and heading out back again.
“You expect us to work for you?” Pervy asked.
“I expect you to workwithus,” I replied. “If you do, you won’t have to hide. Helping others might also increase your chances of passing on from Purgatory faster.”
“We would have to go out there, in thedark?” Pompadour squeaked the last word.
“If the wall still stands, we should be back at it in a day or two,” I said. “You can make it there faster than us. If you leave at daybreak you could arrive at the wall before nightfall. If you give us two or three days before you leave, we’re more likely to be there before you, and we can prepare the others for your arrival.”
“Do you really think they won’t be afraid of us?” Daisy asked hopefully.
“I’m sure it will take some getting used to you, but they will adapt to you as they have everything else.”
CHAPTER 41
River
The ghosts all turned to each other and started speaking over the top of one another again.
“Why should we help them?”
